Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-10
Minor Money Crnns

Minor Money Crops.
That the average Southern farmer relies
too much upon cotton for his money is a
fact that has been much dwelt upon. but
one about which too much cannot be said
If the farmer will but see its truth.
There are number OF minor crops from
which the farmer can make more money
than he can from cotton, and these re.
quire less area and no more work than
does the great staple. Among these minor
crops is sugar cane. A reliable farmer in
Southwest Georgia states that he made
last year five barrels of syrup, averaging
thirty gallons to the barrel, on traction
less than a quarter of an acre of ground.
This would be at the rate OF twenty bar
rels or 800 gallons to the acre.
Cane syrup always sells at from SOC. to
50c. gallon. Taking the lowest esti-
mate, 600 gallons, or the product OF one
acre, would amount to $3.50. The expense
Of cultivation was nominal.
The farmer further stated that all the
work which was done on the quarter OF
an acre of cane from the time it was plant
ed until it was ready to be made I'D into
syrup could have been done in two DAYS
by one man and one horse, and that the
expense of making up the cane did not
exceed S..
To produce this same result from cotton
II would require at least eight acres of
land. and the man and horse would be
kept busy the year round.
This same farmer also gave his expert
ence in raising sweet potatoes. He said
that land OF ordinary fertility would easily
produce 400 bushels of potatoes to the
acre, and that about all the work needed
was in the preparation of the land and
putting out the vines. A good sweet po-
tato will almost always command at least
40c. q bushel. Four hundred bushels at
this rate would amount to $3.50; allowing
$l5 for the expense of. cultivation and
there is left net profit of $l45 from one
acre. Can cotton compare with this?
In this line the Southern Cultivator
calls special attention to tobacco and
broom corn. Concerning tobacco it says
there is no reason to doubt that very
large area OF land in Georgia, South Car
DINA and Alabama Is we'll adapted TO the
production OF the very finest grades OF
tobacco. The metamorphic formations,
1t continues, furnish class of gray,
Pravelly ridge soils that have been found
in corresponding regions in North Caro-
lima to yield the best type of light yellow
wrappers, now so much in demand and
which bring the highest prices. Not the
richest soil is required to produce the
highest priced fancy tobaccos, but one
4 that is light and porous, well drained and
Astounding in ready available potash and
ammonia. In conclusion, this journal
expresses the belief that the start made
Il this year in tobacco culture in Georgia
will soon result in establishing the crop
Z as one OF the minor and, in some coun-
Z ties, the principal money crop.
Concerning the new industry OF raising
broom corn the CultlvatOr has the follow
+ ing to say: Broom corn has this special
8 feature to recommend its adoption as a
<money crop: The seed may be planted in
April and May, the crop harvested in July
B and Immediately sold at home for the cash.
&The whole period from seed-time to mon
#ey-in-th e.pocket is embraced in three
months. The crop is easily cultivated,
#requires no expensive machinery. Broom
Corn belongs to the same genus with Chi
knese and other sOrghlms, and will pro-
sGuce good yield of brush wherever the
Sother members of the genus do well.
Moreover, broom corn will yield a second
Ecrop from the same stalks. The Illinois
Mariner grows broom corn on land worth
BIS to 500 per acre, and yet makes money
end gro vs. rich. The Georgia farmer can
make nearly, if not quite, as large yield
worth less than one-fourth as much. The
illinois farmer frequently relies entirely
IN his broom corn as an income crop,
nd-grows rich. The Georgia farmer
ftener relies entirely on his cotton crop
br money and nearly everything else,
ud-grows poorer.